Disc amusement device

ABSTRACT

A flying disc has an outer annular doughnut-shaped hollow ring surrounding a generally planar central portion. The annular ring is permanently inflated to a high pressure. The flying disc is formed of a thermoplastic plastomer or elastomer and is capable of bouncing 20-25 feet after landing, and rolling an additional distance if it lands on its outer edge.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flying disc capable of bouncing to a substantial degree, and rolling on its circumferential edge.

BACKGROUND

There are many commercial flying discs, e.g. so called Frisbee discs, and a substantial number of these can be seen online at the 13 page website to be found at alibaba.com/showroom/shapes/Frisbee.html. Among these are some flying discs identified as being “inflatable” including one on the first page of such website on the right hand side entitled “Inflatable Frisbee” and another on page 2 of such document entitled “PVC Inflatable Frisbee” and another with the same title on page 3. Such inflatable discs appear to be generally tire-shaped or doughnut-shaped, but of an inflatable beach-ball character of relatively thin walls. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,135,325 and 4,466,212 in the name Lehman also show inflatable flying saucer toys.

It appears from the aforementioned website that most or all of the prior doughnut shaped flying discs shown therein are made of PVC or of silicone plastic or rubber. None of the descriptions are seen to mention any unusual ability of the noted flying discs to bounce. Insofar as is known, none of these prior flying discs are designed for or capable of bouncing from the ground or a hard surface to any substantial degree, or of rolling.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The flying disc or Frisbee®-like amusement device of the present invention combines the capabilities of flying, bouncing and rolling, particularly good for playing Frisbee® golf as well as other flying disc games. Used in Frisbee® golf, for example, the flying disc of the present invention can bounce 25-30 feet and then roll on its outer circumferential edge a considerable distance farther, the distance of course depending partly on the surface on which the flying disc lands.

Structurally, the flying disc of the present invention has a hollow inflated doughnut-shaped outer ring (approximately a torus shape) and desirably a closed, substantially flat or planar surface interior. To enhance flight, the outer doughnut-shaped ring desirably merges with the interior flat or planar surface in an approximate concavity, i.e. a concave shape reaching the flat internal planar surface.

In one embodiment, the flat internal planar surface has a diameter of about 9.5 cm, the overall diameter of the device is about 21 cm, and the horizontal diameter of the roughly annular doughnut-shaped ring is about 6 cm with a height of about 4.5 cm. These dimensions can be changed, but the relative dimension proportions are desirably maintained approximately the same as the aforementioned example for maximum ability to carry out all three functions at the same time of fly, bounce and roll. The width-to-height ratio of the annular ring should not exceed 2:1.

Other factors of importance are (1) the wall thickness of the material from which the flying disc is formed, (2) the plastomeric or elastomeric material from which the flying disc is made, (3) the overall weight of the flying disc relative to its dimensions, (4) the high pressure of inflation of the annular ring, and (5) the formation of the flying disc by injection molding. Thus, for a flying disc of the size indicated in the example above, the material is a thermoplastic polyurethane, the maximum weight is approximately 200 gms, preferably 198 gms, the wall thickness of the thermoplastic polyurethane wall of the flying disc is 0.08″ (80 mils; 2 mm), preferably 0.0728″ (72.8 mils) to 0.10″ (100 mils; 2.54 mm), and the diameter of the planar surface interior is no less than about 4.5 cm.

The hollow doughnut ring portion of the device is inflated to a pressure of 0.9 to 1.5 kg/cm³, preferably 1.2 to 1.3 kg/cm³ (117.6 to 127.5 kpa). The doughnut ring portion is permanently inflated, but is not inflatable, i.e. after initial inflation, the inflation opening is permanently closed so that the selected internal pressure is maintained. From a cost standpoint, the inflation gas is desirably air, but can otherwise be an inert or inactive gas, such as helium or nitrogen.

The foregoing and various other features of the invention will appear in the course of the description which is rendered below with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals depict the identical element or part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a disk amusement device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a variation thereof;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show variations of the transition between the central portion within the doughnut ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

As shown in the attached drawing, FIGS. 1-4, the disc amusement device of the present invention comprises a flying disc 10 which, due to its method of manufacture and its physical properties, is capable, after its flight has ended, of bouncing to a substantial degree and then rolling on its edge 12. Features which contribute to the aforementioned characteristics include the thermoplastic nature of the polymer from which the walls 14 of the flying disc 10 are made, the overall shape of the device including the preferred shape of the merger 18 between the doughnut shaped ring portion 16 and the flat portion 20, the thickness of the walls 14, and the pressure of inflation of the doughnut-shaped ring 16. It is also desirable that the doughnut-shaped ring 16 be somewhat flattened, i.e. that its height be less than the distance between its outer edge 12 and its merged portion 18 with the flat central portion 20. The overall weight of flying disc 10 should not exceed approximately 200 gms.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, and particularly as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is symmetrical, top and bottom, but such symmetry is only preferred, but is not essential. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1A, the central portion 20′ may be bowed to a slight convex configuration of as little as two degrees, making the central portion 20′ almost flat, or the convexity may be as great as 20°. The slightly bowed surface of the central portion 20′ assists in the flight of the flying disc. However, the disadvantage is that the flying disc of FIG. 1A flies more poorly if thrown in an upside-down position. The central portion 20, 20′ may be embossed or debossed.

Substantially the same effect of the bowed central portion 20′ is achieved in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 by the transition area 18 which constitutes a curved area providing the beginning of a concave shape.

The material from which the flying disc 10 is formed is important for two reasons. First, it is highly desirable to foam the flying disc 10 by injection molding, and this means that the plastic material from which it is formed should be a thermoplastic plastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer. Second, because of the desired bounceability of the flying disc 10, the material from which its walls are formed needs to be relatively soft and flexible. The preferred material is a thermoplastic elastomer, and most desirable is a thermoplastic polyurethane. Other materials, although less satisfactory, can be selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, softer polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The preferred thermoplastic polyurethane is formed of polyol, diphenylmethane diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate.

FIG. 4A shows a less preferred variation where the transition area 18′ is curved in only one direction. This variation is desirably coupled with the variation of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4B shows another variation wherein the flat central portion is connected to the doughnut-shaped ring without any curvature whatsoever. This variation has the disadvantage that, although it is symmetrical and flies equally regardless of its up-or-down orientation, it does not fly as well as the preferred structure of FIGS. 3 and 4.

The flying disc 10 not only flies well, but also bounces and rolls, unlike any other known flying disc. Depending on the surface on which the disc lands after flight, it can bounce as much as 25-30 feet. If it lands on its edge, it can also roll an additional distance.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation. 

1. A game or amusement device in the form of a flying disc, comprising: a peripheral doughnut-shaped hollow ring surrounding a generally planar central portion, the hollow ring being permanently inflated to a pressure of at least 0.9 kg/cm³, the flying disc having a wall thickness of at least 72.8 mils, and the flying disc being injection molded of a flexible thermoplastic plastomer or elastomer.
 2. The flying disc of claim 1, comprising a curved transition area between the planar surface interior and the doughnut-shaped ring, the curved area providing the beginning of a concave shape.
 3. The flying disc of claim 2 which is symmetrical, both top and bottom.
 4. The flying disc according to claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, silicone and polyvinyl chloride.
 5. The flying disc of claim 4 wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic polyurethane.
 6. The flying disc of claim 1, wherein the, doughnut-shaped hollow portion has a height-to-width ratio of about 4.5 to
 6. 7. The flying disc of claim 1 inflated to a pressure of at least 1.2 kg/cm³.
 8. The flying disc of claim 1 wherein said peripheral donut-shaped hollow ring has a height which is less than the distance between its outer edge and its inner edge.
 9. The injection molded flying disc of claim 1 comprising said generally planar central portion as a single layer, and wherein said single layer generally planar central portion is integral and unitary with said peripheral doughnut-shaped hollow ring.
 10. The injection molded flying disc of claim 1 wherein said generally planar central portion is imperforate.
 11. The injection molded flying disc of claim 1 wherein said generally planar central portion comprises a single layer.
 12. A game or amusement device in the form of a flying disc having a top and a bottom, comprising a peripheral doughnut-shaped hollow ring surrounding a generally planar central portion comprising a single layer, the hollow ring comprising a single layer and being permanently inflated to a pressure of at least 0.9 kg/cm³, the single layer of said generally planar central portion and the single layer of the peripheral doughnut-shaped hollow ring having a thickness of at least 72.8 mils, and the flying disc being integrally molded as a unitary device of a flexible thermoplastic plastomer or elastomer.
 13. The flying disc of claim 12, comprising a curved transition area between the planar surface and the doughnut-shaped ring, the curved transition area providing the beginning of a concave shape.
 14. The flying disc of claim 13 which is symmetrical on said top and said bottom surfaces.
 15. The flying disc according to claim 12 wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, silicone and polyvinyl chloride.
 16. The flying disc of claim 15 wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic polyurethane.
 17. The flying disc of claim 12 wherein said peripheral doughnut-shaped hollow ring has a dimension between said top and said bottom which is less than a distance between its outer edge and its inner edge.
 18. The flying disc of claim 17 wherein the doughnut-shaped hollow portion has a ratio of the distance between said top and bottom surface to the distance between the outer edge and inner edge thereof of about 4.5 to
 6. 19. The flying disc of claim 12 inflated to a pressure of at least 1.2 kg/cm³. 